Portrait of former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney to be unveiled at Statehouse next month

BOSTON - A New Hampshire artist has completed work on W. Mitt Romney's gubernatorial portrait.

Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom says the painting will be unveiled June 30 during an evening ceremony on the Grand Staircase of the Statehouse.

The portrait was painted by Richard Whitney for $30,000 in private donations. Whitney is known for his realistic paintings and has previously painted Virginia Sen. Jim Webb and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich.

By tradition, the portrait will hang in the lobby of the governor's office. Its placement will force the removal of the portrait of former Gov. John Volpe, with whom Romney's father, George, once served in the Cabinet of President Richard Nixon.